Fountain-pen



8 sheets-sheen.,

` (NO Moael.)

W. W. STEWART.

,FUUNTAIN PEN.

180.878,78). Patented88;;l 24, 1888.

INVENTOR;

By his, Attorneys, mjnmm (No Model.) I Y 2 sheets-sheet W. W. STEWART; f

FOUNTAIN PEN.

l\ tl).-3'76,'760. Patented Jan. 24, 1888.

B E I WITNESSES:` l i INVENTOR;

'By his Azomeys! j @wmf 1 PATENT trice. i

wiLLiAMW. s rnwnnr, or BROOKLYN, naw YORK.

.i-'ouNTAlN-PEN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent/No. 376,760, dated January 24, 18788.

Application filed J anunry F', 1887. Serial No. 2271.166. (No model.)

.To aZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that Ip, WILLIAM W. STEWART, a citizen of the` UnitedStates, residing' at Brooklyn,in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fountain-Pens, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fountain pens or pen-holders wherein the tubular handle or reser'v'oir for holding the ink is closed or sealed at its upper end and' the ink is conducted downward to the writing-pointthrough aduct, itsl place in the holder being taken byv air entering near the lower end. V

The invention relates morev especially to stylus or stylographic pens, although it is in party applicable to nib-pens.

.than has been hitherto afforded. the holder is' constructed with a condensing-- chamber, in which the Vink and air. are coinmingled, and with a vent duct or tube extending thence up through the holder and opening to theouter air at the upperfpartthereof.

My invention also provides several improvements in the construction of the holder.

Prior to my invention some fountainpens have been made the construction of which ap proaches .in some degree that provided by my l invention.

My Patent No.` e 214,795, ydated April 29,

v1879, shows a holdenconstructed with a con' densingchamber which communicates with`V the reservoir by small holes and with the pennib through'a duct supplementedbysmall Vents, whichalternately discharge ink and admit air. My Patent No. 237,454, dated February 8, 1881, shows aholder'constructed with such a condensing-chamber, and with a viewtube extending Yfrom the top of the holder -down into the ink reservoir and normally closed by the screw-cap of the holder, which screws upon its upper end. In' order to regulate the suction within the holder, this cap The object of my invention is to' may be unscrewed slightly, thereby admitting a min nte quantity of air into thev vent-tube.

`My Patent N o. 291,800, dated January 8, 1884,.-shows afstylus fountain-'pen wherein the stylus projects intoor passes through a condensiugchamber, which communicates with the reservoiriby small vents, and the holder of. which is constructed with avent-tube extend` ing down from the top and closed by afsc'rewcap, as before. Around the ytapered. nozzle through which thestylus passes is yan inclosingjacket, which formsa-,nearly-cl'osed annular space `or chamber for the reception of any ink .that may iiow backward from the point, and this spacecoinmunicates with ,the condensingchamber through asmall vent.'

United States Patent No. 291,967, dated January 15, 1884, shows a nibpen havinga 70 partial condensing chamber' communicating with the pen,. a.nd with an. air-tube extending. l l

into it from the top Vofthe holder, wherevit open's'laterally and is closed orregulatcd. by a screwrap, which screws over it.

f 7 The preferred form of myinvention as ap plied to stylus-pens is illustrated in Figures ..1 to 6,` inclusive; of the accompanying draw- Fie. 1 is an elevation of the pen. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal nidfsection thereof on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal midsection of the nozzle detached. Figs.' 4`and5' are elevations of the conical pointsectiondetached, and Fig. 6 is an elevation of the stylus, removed. The remaining figures illustrate l modifications. Figs. Tand Sare'enlarged longitudinal sections answering to Fig. 2,-,show ing two different constructions.. Figs."9 10 are elevations showing two rnoditiev of stylus.. Fig. .11 includes an ele t' a longitudina midsection of a mo section, and ig. 12` shows the or pen used therewith. Fig. 13fi. y fragment-ary .longitudinal 4mid-sectl holder as adapted toftheusual cui'.

. li pen' nib.. Fig. 14 is`a'longitudinal niidfsection of astylus-pen, and Fig, 15 is a sectional eleva.` tion of atapered holder desijg'nedlfor'very/ small pens.y 'roo 'I will first .describe 'the'v construction shown inFigsltoG.' f Let A designate the reservoir-holder, consisting, as usual, yof a tube closed atuits top,

either permanently, as shown, or by aserewcap, if preferred; B, the nozzle-seetion,which screws into the lower end of the holder A; C, the point-section, which screws into the' noz-v zle-section; D, the stylus or writing-point, and E the cap which incloses the parts B, C, and D when the pen is not in use.

The point-section C is bored through longitudinally, and the stylus D plays freely in its bore, as usual. The stylus is formed, as shown in Fig. 6, of a round wire or needle tapered toward the point, and having its upper portion-flattened into a thin ribbon and coiled into a flat spiral, as clearly shown. The fiattened portion a is left uncoiled, only the remainder of the flattened portion being coiled into the spiral b. The portions a and b constitute the spring-seating of the stylus. The spiral b is coiled with its convolutions out of contact with one another, preferably parallel with one another, and in capillary proximity to one another, so that the intervening spaces form a capillary channel for holding ink.

F is the condensing-chamber, which in this construction is located in the nozzle B. The stylus is arranged with its spiral b in the condensing-chamber, while its straight flexible lportion a stands in the upper and flaring portion of the bore c in the point-section C. As the stylus moves slightly up and down during the use of the pen, the spiral b is slightly flexed or flattened, and is kept continually expanding and contracting to such extent that the fluid held in the spiral duct is kept in a condition of agitation, whereby its flow is facilitated. The saine movement slightly tlexes the straight portion a and causes it to vibrate from side to side to a slight extent inthe bore c, thereby keeping the duet or passage clear and free from bubbles or sediment.

Within the holderA is an air-tube or ventduct, G, which extendsl down from the upper end of the holder, and in the construction shown projects below the lower end thereof and enters t-he nozzle B. The lower end of this tube almost entirely fills the nozzle, and thereby incloses the condensing-chamber F. The ink-reservoir H is formed by the annular space between the holder A and the tube G. This ink-reservoir communicates with the condensing chamber through lthe medium of grooves d d, formed in the outside of the tube G, near its lower end, or in the inner walls of the nozzle B, if preferred. Thus the only communication between the condensingchamber and the ink-reservoir is through the medium of capillary grooves or ducts which prevent any free or rapid flow of ink.

The tube G communicates with the outer air at its upper end. In the construction shown its upper end is cementedl into the top of the holder A, and a small hole, e, is drilled laterally through both. Vhen the pen is in use, the cap Eis slipped onto the head of the holder, as usual, and if pressed fully down will cover and close the vent e. In ordinary use, however, the cap is drawn slightly back, as shown, so that this vent is exposed and the vent or duct through the tube G (which duet I will designate by the letter g) is opened to the outer air. The lower end of the tube G is provided with small perforations f j', which may communicatewith the grooves d d or not, as preferred. The lower end of the tube G affords a re-enforcement against which the springseating (the spiral b) of the stylus bears.

The nozzlesection B is constructed, as heretofore, with a tubular extension or `jacket, J, extending down around the point-section C and inclosing a considerable portion of the latter. \Vithin this jack et and around the point section is a partially-inelosed space, vll, as in my said Patent No. 291,800. The pointsection G has one or more vents, h h, consisting of small holes drilled into it, so as to communicate with its bore c, and is4 preferably 'formed on its exterior with transverse notches z' i, into which these holes open. ,i

The operation is as follows: When -the pen is first filled, it must not be used until the interior surfaces of the holder are thoroughly soaked or saturated with the ink. This is the case with all fountain -pens of this character. When the reservoir becomes thoroughly soaked, the action ofthe pen commences. Ink flows down from the reservoir through the ducts d d into the condensing-chamber F, and thence down the stylus D or bore c to the writ ingpoint. whence it is discharged upon the paper. This outtlow of ink generates a suetion within the reservoir, which results in an inflow of a-ir through the ducts h l1, this ai rV being previously moistened by flowing through the chamber I, the walls of which are covered with a film of ink. The entering air, being thus moistened, readily combines with the ink in the bore c and chamber F, forming a fine froth, with which the condensing chamber eventually becomes lled. This action is facilitated bythe agitation of the spring-seating c b of the stylus. The froth gradually works itself into the reservoir H, wherein the air in time disengages itself from the fluid and rises to the upper part of the reservoir. In all pens of this class it will occasionally happen that the Vents h L will become filled with ink, which adheres tenaciously to them and seals them against the admission of air. When this occurs, the suction draws in air at the writingpoint or tip of the section C, since the duid at that point, being agitated by the movement of the stylus, is less tenacious than that which fills the vents above. at the writing-point prevents the outflow of ink upon the paper, and the pen runs dry. This serious defect of previous pens is entirely obviated by my invention, since when such stoppage occurs the suction is vat once relieved by air which enters through the duct g, soy that the proper downliow of ink to the writingpoint is never interrupted. The result is that the pen writes with a smooth and uniform flow,

Ico

This inward suction of air without drying 'upor spattering or any otherl such defect of priorpens.

The smooth metallic surface of the stylus.

and itsspring-seating afford an irritant for facilitating the flow of vtheink and the movement of the entering air, while the interior of the condensing-chamber, being o f vulcanite or similar material, affords an absorb ent surface which cofopera'tes with the gravity of the iiuid, the two dissimilar surfaces coacting for, the regulation of the flow on the prin-L ciple elucidatedv in my patent, No. 253,953, dated February 21,1582. f

\Vhen the pen is not in use, it is inverted and putin the pocket. the ink in the reservoir runs down to its head,

and that in the condensing-chamber and in the point-section is drawn into ythe reservoir, the air 4in the latter, ora portion thereof, escaping through Vthe duct g. The ink and air which remain in the condensing-chamber are governed by the irritant surfaces, so that the ink` is kept from forming into balls or drops and vthe air fromgathering into globular' bubbles,

the frothy condition which is desirable in order to render the peurv capable again of immediate use being thereby preserved.

The mechanical construction of the pen may be varied or modified in many ways.v For example, the condensing-chamber F, instead of being formed in the nozzle-section B, may be arranged in theholder A, or in the tubeG, or in the point scction^C,fThe tube G may extend to a greater or less height, either opening through the extreme top of the holder or through its side at'anypoint lower down. It

.. is only essential to this tubeor duct that'it be y wherein the condensing-,chamber is formed in. The screw-shank of this the point-section C.

so located that in noease will it discharge ink, so that it may not become lled or sealed with Iiuid.

Fig. 7illustrates a modified construction,

sectionl is made somewhat larger than before, and the lower end-,ofY the tube G projects into it and nearly fills it, leaving only lsufficient space between to serve the purpose of the ducts d d, before described. Tile air-vents It hopen from the chamber I directly into the condensing-chamber F. The upper end of the tube G passes through the top or head of the holder A. In this construction the cap E should be perforated in order to admit air to thepduct g..

Fig. Sshowsa construction in which the condensing-chamber is located lhigher up within Onthns inverting itr illustrate two *modified` constructions vwhich mayflbe used, if preferred. That shown in Fig.

9 consistsl of a round needle flattened above intoha very thin elastic ribbon and bowed to oneQside, as shown. ThatA shown in Fig. 10 consists of a round needle withits upper portion .'iiattened, with a quarter'twist between the portions aand a.,fand'with the upper portion,

j, twisted, in orderto make it rigid and con-r fine the yielding to the Iiatportions below.

- rItistead'of a stylus-point, a dat pen may be usedf` by those who prefer it, inwhich casetheul point-section will ybe constructed as shown'in through, it is also formed with a slit, 7c, in a longitudinal plane which communicates with thebore c. Y Fig. lf2 shows the fiat pen, which consistssimply of a flat sheet of gold or other metal or material cut to the shape shown, and either slitted'or not, as may bedesired.

, The ordinary curved pen-nib may be used with a holder constructed according to my invention. Fig. 13 illustrates one such construction. The penenib. is confined ybetween the nozzle B and a plug, G,which in this construck tion takes'the place of the'point-section() in the construction first described. ,l The plug C is formedwith an ink-duct and air-Vent, and within it is formed the condensingchamber F'.

Beneath the pen-nib and in a groove or gutter Y in the plug lCis a metal strip or wire, Z, which passes through into'the condensing-chamber F, and is coiled into a spiral, b, therein. This stri p and spiral have the samefunctions as the stylus and its spiral inthe construction first described.v The tube G projects into' the plug C', nearly filling it,'and leaving only a narrowv fspace or duct, d, to afford communication between the condensing-chamber and the reserioo voir H. Many other constructions for admitl ting the use ot' this holder with a curved pennib may bc devised without departing from my present invention, and such constructions may' involve the features found in any one or more of my fountain-pen patents heretofore granted or applied for.

iro.,y

Instead of making the ventvduct gthrough thetnbe G and the reservoir H outside thereof, the position of these parts may be'reversed, v

as shown in Fig. 14. Here theI bore of the tube Gconstitutesthe reservoir H, which communicates with the condensing-chamber F throughthe medium ofminute holes d d, formedy inthe closed lower end of the tube.

Around the tube G is an annular space,which,y

constitutes the air-duct g, and which extends up to 'the Vtop or head of the holder and'there Y communicates with` the open air through per# forations e e. the construction first described. VIn order to The operation Iis the same asin supply ink to the reservoiig'a screw-cap, K, isJ

lnnscrewed from the head of the holder and the ink poured into the tube- G. Y

For a very tine or small pen, either astylus f f or nib pen, the'barrel or nozzle, or both, may

be made small toward the point and enlarged toward the head, as indicated in Fig. 15.

8oV Fig'.r`.11, where, instead of being simply bored f I claim as my invention, in a fountain-pen', the following defined features and combinations, substantially as hereinbefore specified, namely: l .Y

1. A fountain-pen constructed with a condensing-chamber between the reservoir and the writing-point, with a vent for ink and air communicating therewith and opening near the lower end of the pen, and with a ventduct extending from said chamber upwardly and opening to the outer air.

2. A fountainpen constructed with a condensing-chamber between the reservoir and the writing-point, with an ink-duct extending thence downwardly to the writing-point, with avent for ink and air communicating with said chamber and opening near the lower end of the pen, and with a vent duct extending from said chamber upwardly and opening to the'outer air.

3. A fountain-pen constructed with a condensing-chamber between the reservoir and the writingpoint, with an ink-duct extending thence down to the writing-point, with an irritant in said ink-duct, with a vent for ink and air opening into said ink-duct, and with a vent-duct extending from the condensingchamber upwardly and opening to the outer air.

4. A fountain-pen constructed with a condensing-chamber between the reservoir'and the writing-point, with a jacket around said point forming a partially-closed air-chamber, with a vent for ink and air opening into said air-chamber and com municating with said condensing-chamber, with an ink-duct extending from said condensing-chamber downward to the Writing-point, and with a Vent-duct extending from said condensing-chamber upwardly and opening to the outer air.

5. A fountain-pen constructed with a condensingchamber between the reservoir and the writing-point, with an ink-duct extending thence down to the writing-point, with ink and air vents communicating with said cham- 45 ber, with a flexible irritant extending through said duct, and with a capillary spiral in said condensing-chamber.

6. A stylus fountain-pen constructed with a condensing-chamber between the reservoir and 5o the writing-point, with an ink-duct extending from said chamberdown to the writing-point,

andwith a stylus extending through said duct and formed at its upper portion with a flat flexible spiral arranged in the condensing- 55 chamber.

7. The combination, in a fountain-pen, ofa holder, a nozzle screwed to the lower end of saidrholdcr, a vent-tube extending through said holder, with its lower end entering the 6o upper part of said nozzle and entirely filling the same with the exception of a capillary space or conduit, and a point-section fastened in the lower end of said nozzle, whereby a condensingchamber is formed in said nozzle be- 6'5 tween the ends of said vent-tube and pointsection.

S. The combination, in a fountain-pen, of a tubular holder, a nozzle screwed to the lower end thereof and formed at its lower end with 7o a projecting jacket, a pointlsection fastened to said nozzle within said projecting jacket, and a tube extending through said holder with its lower end entering said nozzle.

In witness whereot I have hereunto signed 75 my name in the present of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM NV. STEWART.

Vitnesses:

ARTHUR C. FRASER, GEORGE H. FRASER. 

